Claire didn’t back away.

She looked down at Gene with gray-green eyes that stayed perfectly steady.

“You’ve brought a badge to my front porch thirty-four years too late, Gene,” Claire said.

She reached into her sweater pocket and drew out a folded parchment document with a raised seal.

She walked down the three wooden steps and held it out to Deputy Cole.

“What’s that?” Gene demanded, jerking his arm to check his gold wristwatch.

“Officer, she’s just stalling you.